Day 34 - Sparks, NV to Elko, NV

Today was sunny and mild. It was a perfect day for a long drive through a remote area.

The Route
I-80 provided a simple way to get to Elko ... get on in Sparks and drive 296 miles east.

Along the Way
The route was simple. The terrain was rugged and fascinating.

There were six cities of significant size along the way. Fermley, Lovelock, Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Carlin and Elko were separated by lots of wilderness.

We stopped at a Black Bear Diner in Yreka, CA a few years ago. The experience was exceptional, so we tried a Black Bear Diner in Fermley for a late breakfast today. The menu is varied and fun. Our selections were generous and delicious. Try this chain if you get a chance.

The three prisons along the route confirm the isolation in this part of the state.

The highway was in excellent condition and traffic was light.

Leaving Sparks on I-80

The Fernley Sink hopes to collect some
of the area's annual 5" rainfall.

The Fernley Sink Lake appears snow covered.

We saw a lot of this today.

The Winnemucca name got us.

Approaching Pumpernickel Valley

I-80 snakes through the mountains.

Approaching Carlin Tunnel

The Campground
We're staying at Iron Horse RV Resort. Though the park name suggests the obvious for some, we didn't think about the significance of the name until we pulled in. It's next to the railroad tracks.

This is a very nice RV park.